break-in oil change

The more I read the more questions I have. The manufactures of some synthetic oil products recommend longer use of dino or mineral oil before switching to synthetics because of how the molecules bond to the engine parts, while other manufactures recommend a new car owner can switch to synthetic oil after 1-5k miles.
It appears to be a significant difference when changing from mineral oil to synthetic oil, primarily the break-in shavings bonding to engine parts once synthetic oil is introduced in the engine the shavings may bond to the surfaces.
My question: Should I change the oil (first oil change at 5 k), continue with a mineral based oil until the car reaches 10 k miles before changing over to synthetic oil?
Royal Purple seems ok with the switch from mineral to synthetic at 5 k.
The Castro website that I read discussed discouraged using an over-sized filter because it changes the oil flow pressure in the engine itself.
It also states that changing 3 times per year (almost seasonally) may be better than changing it based on 5k, 10 k miles basis, etc... Some synthetic oil manufactures like AMSOIL state you can go up to 15 K between oil a nd filter changes.
I did not change my oil in my Prius yet at 3200 mles. With other new (Toyota) cars I owned I always (break-in oil change) self-changed the oil at 500 miles and I could see the very small metal shavings. I cannot self change oil at my condo like I could when I owned a home with a garage so I depend on Toyota mechanics for this service. I saw a number of posts that stated the cylinder displacement in the newer Toyota cars was much improved and oil changing at 500 miles is the 'old school' method that served me well (engine longevity) with every car I owned. I understand about the environment issues but this is a maintenance question that I think deserves some consideration.

 

After reading this post as well as many others through the years, I am still amazed that so many people think that car makers still use break-in oil.

When I started in the car business ... back in the 60's ... yes, car makers and engine rebuilders used break-in oil. Manufacturing tolerances were very poor ... compared to todays work ... and the best oil you could buy then would rate somewhere below crankcase sludge from a modern engine.

If you check with several modern car makers ... pick major name companies, you would find that some of the new cars on the road come from the factory with synthetic oil ... and some of those cars have oil change recommendations of 15k to 20k miles.

From my personal experience, car engines wear faster with dino oil than they do with synthetic. The argument for switching, and at what miles, often is based on how broken in the motor will be.

Cars I had in the 60's sometimes got 700 miles to the quart of oil ... whether new or with 50,000 miles. Some professional mechanics back then said that if a car DIDN'T use some oil, there was something wrong with the motor. All of the new cars I have had in the last 10-12 years have never used a drop between oil changes ... from the day I bought then new until getting rid of them. (this included a Geo Metro 3 cylinder ... 44 mpg ... after 150,000 miles)

Switching to synthetic oil ALWAYS improved my mpg ... by a significant amount. I have kepts logs on my cars for over 40 years and I have learned by experience that synthetic, for me, is worth about 10% better mpg.

Todays cars don't come with break in oil and they don't need oil changes at 3000 miles ... unless you really want to give too much money to the oil
company.

I would never try to dispute the wisdom of the Old Bald Guy or any other Prius owner about today's Toyota's being built. I do think everything he says about newer car manufacturing is correct, valve clearance or tolerance is much improved and tighter specs all around. I am focusing specifically on the break-in period. I changed my oil today at 3300 + miles. I closely inspected the oil fllter residual oil. The residue was different than before than with my other new Toyotas in yesteryear; no visible metal shavings. The technician changing the oil stated the break-in period can last up to 10 k miles He recommended not to switch to synthetic until 8-10 k because of microscopic particles become more pronounced during the 2nd or 3rd 3 k oil change. Maybe they are teaching this in oil school because I read something to this effect in a Castro oil hyperlink. As those particles remain they could bond to the synthetic oil that then bonds to the internal engine parts. Is this oil company propaganda or this Prus owner paranoia? does it make any difference in engine performance or gas mileage? I do not know. Since I can't 'see' microscopic metal shavings but I have kind of an understanding about the difference between Dino oil and synthetics, it makes sense to do early oil changes with Dino oil early on then switch to a high grade synthetic after 10 k and use an extended oil change schedule. BTW, he would have been happy to sell me Mobile I @ $79.00 oil change. Terry